How often do your prickles erupt? Once in awhile? When life really goes to pot? When you’ve finally had enough? Or too, too often….? Prickles are easy to spot. In fact, one can feel them rising to the surface. They’re … Continue reading
Prickles
Turn Yourself In
God is looking for you. You’re a wanted soul. Wanted for redemption. For a relationship with the One true God. Funny, though, because God knows just where to find you. But He has always given us a choice. To surrender … Continue reading
Leave It
How many burdens do you keep?
Or…
How many burdens do you take back after you give them away to God?
When you lay your burden down, giving it to God,
don’t pick it back up.
We are not made to carry them.
We are sheep.
But our Shepherd is made for the job.
He’s willing and happy to do it.
But we have to make a choice.
To lay the burden down.
And leave it at the foot of the cross.
Jesus might not carry it like you think He should.
Don’t ask for it back.
When your mind thinks of that burden, you begin to think of ways to fix it.
That, my friends, is scooping the burden back up.
Every time your thoughts return to that burden, give it back to God.
Thank Him for fixing it for you.
Tell Him you can’t wait to see How he solves it.
He will let you know.
Promise.
If you instead, keep musing over that issue,
the burden will climb back onto your shoulders.
Worry and fear will once again join you.
So stop.
Give them to God and stop those thoughts in their tracks.
Smile, knowing God’s in control.
And He has your best in mind.
Saved From More
“Look unto Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God and there is none else.” Isaiah 45:22 Saved, yes, for all of eternity. From the punishment we richly deserve. But I think there’s … Continue reading
Redeemer
To regain. Recover. Exchange. God is our Redeemer. He exchanges our sinful selves for a pure soul worthy of heaven. Nothing we can do on our own merit. It’s through trusting in His saving grace. He redeems our souls, but … Continue reading
Jesus Loves Me
Jesus loves me this I know For the Bible tells me so Little ones to Him belong They are weak, but He is strong. Do you know Jesus loves you? Do you really know? He does. With everything He has, … Continue reading
Prayer
May we press into Jesus so that others see only Him through our hands, our words, and our self. May we focus so intently on Him that we forget our selfish troubles and our attitudes become pure. May we remember … Continue reading
Temptations
What are yours? Your temptations? Believing the worst about someone because of your own personal wounds? Sneaking off early or wasting time at work because you feel you deserve it? Not correcting the clerk who hands you extra change? Embracing … Continue reading
Humble Yourself
Are you humbled that God whispers your name? That the Creator of ALL things even notices you? He does more than notice you. He crafted your very existence. He ordains your days. He allows you to experience life as He … Continue reading
Witness God
When faced with complaining, you have an opportunity to witness God’s power. We cannot behave properly without God, so we must allow Him to work through us. Disgruntled situations provide freedom to let God move. But only if we choose … Continue reading
Unbelievable power
The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. Romans 8:11 … Continue reading
How free are you?
“Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.” 1 John 4:15 If you confess with your lips… If your soul longs for God… If your heart knows it needs to … Continue reading
What moves you?
My dear mother shared this verse with me today: “But none of these things move me….” Acts 20:24 Paul goes on to explain his pristine focus on the mission God had entrusted to him. Earthly things didn’t move him. Including … Continue reading
Questioning God
Who am I to question Almighty God? What gives me that right? His ways are above mine. He holds our future in His capable strong hands. Our job is to trust Him with faith like a child. Oh we can … Continue reading
Peace or Panic
Choose you this day whom you will serve. Joshua 24:15 Who is your master? Who are you serving? God? The flesh? Christians are quick to say God, of course. We do lots of business in God’s name. And most of … Continue reading
Focusing on Jesus
And Peter answered Him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he … Continue reading
Speech
Our tongues produce life or death.
Mere words are capable of bringing joy or sorrow, pain or comfort.
Words are quick to come, hard to erase.
They are spoken on a careless whim or calculated with extreme precision.
They can be used to manipulate.
Lies are words.
So is truth.
Words have produced World Wars, convinced sin to enter the world, and elected world leaders.
Words have announced the birth of our Savior and condemned Him to death.
Legal documents are filled with words which determine the course of history.
Our Constitution’s words have formed the basis of our freedom.
Words
Are
Powerful.
Speak life.
Pour words of life into the lives of those you touch.
Right Where You Are
He has you where He wants you. Jesus. He places us in spots where He can use us. Do you ever wonder why He chose this spot? I do. Sometimes things don’t make sense. Logically. But that’s not our job. … Continue reading
Your Precious Little Heart
Let not your hearts be troubled…. John 14:1a I find this funny. Funny like haha, yea, right. Oh wait – is God serious? How can I possibly ignore life’s troubles? Well, God didn’t say ignore life’s troubles… Just don’t let … Continue reading
Personally Yours
Make a list of your blessings. I know you can, even if you are in the deep dark pit. Physically write them down. You’ll need to refer to the list often until you can remember them on your own. If … Continue reading
Sprinkles on ice cream
Why not? Have sprinkles on your ice cream? It’s way funner. Ok, more fun. Or how about using your grandmother’s dishes every day instead of only on special occasions? Life is meant to be lived. Not watched from the sidelines. … Continue reading
Audience of One
Pulled the chicken out of the oven and assembled the many dinner plates. Peas, macaroni & cheese, and chicken on my blue dishes looked appetizing. As I said out loud to thin air, “Good job, Amy”, I knew at that … Continue reading
Rising from the dead
Not literally. I’m talking about spirit crushed, gut wrenching grief. When you are overcome with grief from the very depths of your soul and you cry until you cannot cry anymore. That kind of dead. Times like those are when … Continue reading
Taking offense
As a general rule, are people out to get you? Overall, are your loved ones decent and loving? I’m talking about deep into the heart. Come on- keep looking. Bottom line? People love you. You know I’m right. They’re not … Continue reading
Sovereign
God is sovereign. Over all things. The definition of sovereign includes these words: supreme permanent authority. Well, that about covers it, doesn’t it? God has supreme (total) authority (power) and it’s never going away (permanent, here forever). He holds the … Continue reading
Stuck at the cross
(This guest post is my sweet daughter Linnea’s senior legacy paper) When thinking about how to sum up what I’ve learned in high school, I struggle to find the words. There’s so much I’ve learned. Really, there are like ten … Continue reading
God is bigger
Way bigger. Than everything, big or small. Life changing things. Little annoyances. He’s bigger than the problems of today. What do I mean? God can do anything. And He will. He’s promised to protect you. To carry your burdens. To … Continue reading
Need new glasses?
How do you choose to view things in your life? Ugly things Beautiful things Uncomfortable situations If you look at a challenge through worldly eyes, fear will be in control. You’ll worry Fret Obsess However, if you look at that … Continue reading
Choosing misery
I know someone. So full of bitterness, anger, and self pity, she can hardly function. Slightest incident can set off a torrent of panic. Fear of losing control. Of her world. If life doesn’t go her way, she pouts. Complains. … Continue reading
Stepping into life
Are you ever amazed at the ugliness inside? At the emotions that pour out of your heart from nowhere? Where on earth did that come from? Is that me? Am I really that selfish? Am I really that insecure? Jealous? … Continue reading
Remind me, God
Look at all I have done for you. Look back at where you have been. Compare that to now. How faithful have I been? Completely. Down to the tiniest detail. Remember. Simply remember and be reminded. I am still … Continue reading
Anger? You betcha!
Is it OK to be angry? Yes. Is it OK to be upset? Yep. Is it OK to be full of anger? No. Is it OK for anger to dictate my emotions? Heck no. Is it OK to dwell in … Continue reading
You
How does God see you? As His beloved. His miracle. His greatest creation. As someone worth dying for. Your thoughts are precious to Him. Your tears are held in His hands. Your joys bring Him smiles. And your praise gives … Continue reading
Confusion
Does God ever confuse you? Leave you baffled? Speechless? Or do you make sense of everything He allows? I don’t. I can’t possibly make sense of some things. So I’m left in a confused state. Left until I decide to … Continue reading
Blessings
Smiling eyes A helping hand An opened door from a stranger A handsome lunch date Money for groceries A giant beautiful Christmas tree My warm cozy house Baking cookies from my grandmother’s handwritten recipes Music that fills the air The … Continue reading
Obvious
It should be obvious I am Your child, Lord. That I spend time with You. Sweet Jesus, please give me Your eyes. I want to see things through Your lens. Your filter. I want to see things as they really … Continue reading
Only Human
Sometimes I feel like a hypocrite. Fraud. Someone who writes well and doesn’t listen to what she writes. Well, I’m only human. Not perfect. Not even close. Life is real. Emotions are real. Expectations are real. We are forced every … Continue reading
Seeing God
Ever see God work? Witness His marvelous plan unfold? Take a breath and look around. He’s working in your children’s hearts. He’s organizing your thoughts. He’s ordering your steps. He’s revealing nuggets of wisdom just when you need them. He’s … Continue reading
Seeing Love
If love stared you in the face, would you see it? How bout if it looked a different way? Can you see love in the way it arrives at your doorstep? If it’s dressed unexpectedly, can you even see it … Continue reading
It Starts With You
Everything. How will you respond to what life throws at you? When stress stares you in the face, how will you behave? Panicky? Unable to breathe? Grumpy pants? If that’s your response, your body will respond in fear. You will … Continue reading
